Just a matter of time before we prevail against heart disease.

Mercy Hospital Washington hosted the 2012 Heart to Heart Fair February 4 to raise awareness about heart disease during National Heart Health Month. We offered educational booths, presentations on heart health and medical screenings – including good and bad cholesterol checks – with free consultations from Mercy physicians. This year we introduced a Kids’ Zone to help us match our theme, “Heart Health for All Ages” and introduced our new stroke services to the community.

I’m pleased to tell you that about 200 people came through our screening room, which demonstrates that residents of our region are taking steps to learn their risk factors for heart disease. Learning their numbers is how we find out whether we need to maintain the numbers we have or take steps to improve them. What’s more is that we opened our screenings to children ages 9 and up to follow new pediatric guidelines.

We are very proud that our Heart to Heart Fair has become a favorite community event. We are happy to bring it to you as part of our mission to serve our communities, and delighted that our communities are attending and showing they know to take heart health seriously.

Our ultimate goal is to work toward the treatment and prevention of America’s No. 1 killer. To all of our guests at the Heart to Heart Fair and everyone who is making the effort to fight heart disease, thank you for your commitment. If we all work together and lead by example to encourage our children and grandchildren to eat smart and increase our physical activity, it’s just a matter of time before we prevail against heart disease.